Characterization of fatty acid interaction with ouabain and vanadate binding to (Na+ + K+)-activated ATPase

The candidateship of unsaturated fatty acids as endogenous ouabain-like factors was studied. Binding of the artificial ligand vanadate at the intracellular phosphorylation epitope of membrane-bound Na+/K+-ATPase was unaffected by linoleic and arachidonic acid. In the (Mg2+ + Pi)-facilitated system for ouabain binding they were characterized as noncompetitive inhibitors of cardiac glycoside binding, however. The ouabain binding capacity as well as the affinity decreased and the ouabain dissociation rate was accelerated by fatty acids. In the presence of vanadate for facilitation of ouabain binding an increase in ouabain affinity was seen. It is concluded that elementary criteria for the characterization of unsaturated fatty acids as ouabain-like factors are not fulfilled. The ratio between E2-subconformations of Na+/K+-ATPase with different ouabain affinities may be changed by incorporation of fatty acids in the lipid membrane.